HBU and Kings Lynn went into this tournament level on points at the top of the table and this was the final match between the two teams this season. A win was essential to HBU’s ambition to take the title. HBU have the strength to have most of the possession and the Kings Lynn tactic is to defend tightly and unleash counter-attacks. Last time out HBU had won 4 – 2 with Kings Lynn having just 2 counter-attacks and scoring both. This time team orders were not to get so far up the rink that undefended counter attacks could happen. Both teams followed their orders very well which meant a very cat and mouse game with HBU scoring through a Mount penalty at the close of the first half and a Branchett finish from open play in the second.

HBU v Bury 4 – 2

While HBU’s focus had been on the Kings Lynn match, Bury had quietly augmented their team by signing a sharp-shooting Peterborough prodigy who is a member of Peterborough’s Premier League team. Fortunately, HBU had spotted this in an earlier match and so the instructions once more were to prevent counter attacks. With a goal from Martindale and 2 from Lewis Greenwood HBU had a 3 – 0 lead at half-time and continued to control the match until the closing 5 minutes when a lapse in front of goal allowed the Bury sharp-shooter to slot home. Lewis restored HBU’s 3 goal advantage immediately off the restart but another lapse conceded one further goal from the same Bury player.

HBU v Cottenham 12 – 0

HBU’s primary goal scorers had been off target against Kings Lynn and Bury and so it continued in this match with HBU overwhelmingly superior in the play but only scoring twice (Branchett) in the first 10 minutes. At this point Jocie Greenwood came on and almost immediately scored as a result of good positioning and quick reactions in front of goal. 5 minutes later, the half-time score was 6 – 0 to HBU and this was doubled in the second half. HBU scorers Branchett (5), Jocie Greenwood (2), Mount (2), Lewis Greenwood (Capt) (2), Martindale.

HBU Manager Ron Barker commented “This is a very competitive league and players are learning to stick to the tactics laid out for each match. Today’s results reflect an excellent improvement by the whole team except for finishing. In November we lost 6 – 4 to Cottenham, last month we just won 4 -3 and today its 12 – 0. This demonstrates the improvement in the way we operate as a team; and the goalkeepers conceded only 2 in 3 matches. We are in good shape with 3 matches to play but Bury in particular seem to be looking for late season upsets.”

Herne Bay United faced an improving Peterborough side on Saturday night. United were looking to continue their 100% record in their league campaign this season. United controlled the early stages of the game and were rewarded when 7 minutes in Brendan Barker scored from close range to make it 1-0. A minute later Barker doubled United’s lead with a flick into the bottom corner of the visitor’s net to make it 2-0. The game then settled down with United controlling the game in attack and restricting Peterborough to long range shots which were comfortably dealt with by Jay Williamson in United’s goal. With 10 minutes left in the half a goal mouth scramble resulted in a Peterborough player putting the ball in the net whilst he was on the floor. However the referees awarded the goal and gave it as an Own Goal against Barker (2-1). There were no more goals in the first half.

United were not at their best and Peterborough knew they were in with a chance if they upped their game. The second half started with Peterborough upping the pace of their game. They were now starting to cause United problems. Then with 18 minutes left in the game, United’s captain Simon Hosking was blue carded (2 minutes in the sin bin) for pushing an opponent. This meant United were now down to 3 outplayers and a penalty awarded to the visitors. Peterborough had a great chance to level from the penalty however United Keeper Jay Williamson pulled of a great save to keep the score at 2-1. Whilst United were a man short Peterborough tried to press them, however the tactic backfired when Neil Austin intercepted a pass and sprinted the length of the rink, rounded the keeper and scored to make the score 3-1. Peterborough still believed they had a chance to get something out of the game and would have scored again if not for Williamson pulling off a string of fine saves in United’s net. Then with 14 minutes remaining in the game Barker was harshly deemed to have tripped a player, resulting in another penalty to Peterborough and another 2 minutes sinbin. Again Williamson saved the penalty attempt. With that save Peterborough saw the chance of getting anything from the game disappear. They continued to create chances but couldn’t beat Williamson. United know that if Peterborough continued to takes risks at the back then opportunities to counter attack would arise. With 5 minutes to go Peterborough reached 10 team fouls so a penalty was awarded to United. Austin made no mistake and United were now 4-1 up. The flood gates now opened and United scored 5 more goals in the last 3 minutes to make the final score 9-1.

After the game United’s man of the match keeper Jay Williamson said: “We are happy with the result, although not with the performance. We are still learning a new style of play, it means we are creating less chances but most importantly we are conceding less. Hopefully we can continue as a team to improve. We are all working hard to develop our team game. We want to control the game. We are in 2nd place in the league, 3 points behind Manchester with 3 games in hand. I know it looks like we are in a strong position but we know we are a long way from the finished article. We haven’t played Manchester or Grimsby yet this season, so our position in the league is artificially high. All we can do is focus on our game, and listening to the coach. We are not looking at the league, we are just looking at the next match, which is against Grimsby”.

United coach Phil McVey said: “It’s a common theme this year, we have won the game but the level of our performance falls short of where it needs to be. It is not a criticism of the players though. I am thrilled with their commitment and their desire to learn a new style of play. It is an incredibly hard thing as a player and as a team to completely change the way you play. It is a huge undertaking for the players individually and for the team as a whole. However they have all bought into it. Obviously we want to win every game we play, but this season our focus is on our team play. We have won all of our games so far but I do not consider us to have any real chance of the title. It looks to me that the title will be heading north for the 3rd year in a row. The favourites to win it are Manchester, Grimsby and Middlesbrough in that order. I would put us as outsiders along with Bury.”